About
The Paths of Survival is a poetic exploration of moments in history, examining the fragility of literary culture, both classical and contemporary – and the often surprising means by which it flourishes against all the odds.
Some of the poems included and discussed here have been published previously. Others represent new works-in-progress, offering a new kind of poetic historicism in which ancient texts, translations and versions interact with original contemporary poems to excavate the cultural connections that bind us together across the centuries in often surprising ways.
In particular, The Paths of Survival explores how the long, long passage of time can impact on literary texts, as poets, scholars, editors, librarians – and, of course, readers – respond to the written word, transforming it, both intentionally and unintentionally, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, but always ensuring it endures.
Josephine Balmer
(The site header image is from a painting of Ashdown forest by Mary Grant)
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The Paths of Survival 
Dear Ms. Balmer, I have loved your translations for a long time and was so happy to find this website in my researches on “The Distaff.” I have some questions about the poem I hope you might answer. And I’m just glad to be in touch. Good wishes, Annie
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Dear Ms. Balmer, I am a poet living in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. I very much enjoyed your Sappho Poems and Fragments. I would like to discuss permissions to use two of these translations and wonder if you would provide me with your email address so that we can communicate. Thank you very much, Cathy Barber
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